GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 2 definitions
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Engross (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Engrossed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Engrossing.] [F., fr. pref. en- (L. in) + gros gross, grosse, n., an engrossed document: cf. OF. engrossir, engroissier, to make thick, large, or gross. See Gross.]
1. To make gross, thick, or large; to thicken; to increase in bulk or quantity. [Obs.]
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Waves . . . engrossed with mud. Spenser.
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Not sleeping, to engross his idle body. Shak.
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2. To amass. [Obs.]
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To engross up glorious deeds on my behalf. Shak.
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3. To copy or write in a large hand (en gross, i. e., in large); to write a fair copy of in distinct and legible characters; as, “to engross a deed or like instrument on parchment”.
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Some period long past, when clerks engrossed their stiff and formal chirography on more substantial materials. Hawthorne.
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Laws that may be engrossed on a finger nail. De Quincey.
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4. To seize in the gross; to take the whole of; to occupy the attention completely; to absorb; as, “the subject engrossed all his thoughts”.
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5. To purchase either the whole or large quantities of, for the purpose of enhancing the price and making a profit; hence, to take or assume in undue quantity, proportion, or degree; as, “to engross commodities in market; to engross power.”
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Engrossed bill (Legislation), one which has been plainly engrossed on parchment, with all its amendments, preparatory to final action on its passage. -- Engrossing hand (Penmanship), a fair, round style of writing suitable for engrossing legal documents, legislative bills, etc.
Syn. -- To absorb; swallow up; imbibe; consume; exhaust; occupy; forestall; monopolize. See Absorb.
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engrossing adj. capable of holding the attention completely; very interesting.
Syn. -- absorbing, fascinating, gripping, riveting.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]